Mystery of DB Cooper | Man who Vanished in the Sky! | Dhruv Rathee

Summary

On November 24, 1971, a man calling himself Dan Cooper hijacked a Northwest Orient Airlines flight, claiming he had a bomb. He demanded $200,000 and 4 parachutes, which the airline agreed to provide when the plane landed. After the passengers exited, Cooper jumped from the rear stairs with the cash strapped to him and was never seen again. Despite an extensive search, the FBI could not conclusively identify Cooper or determine his fate after the daring jump. To this day, the Cooper case remains the only unsolved airplane hijacking in U.S. history, capturing public fascination for decades.

Takeaways

• 😲 On November 24, 1971, a man named Dan Cooper hijacked a 30-minute flight from Portland to Seattle, demanding $200,000 and 4 parachutes.
• 😃 The airline president decided to cooperate with Cooper's demands to avoid negative publicity.
• 🛫 After securing the money and parachutes, Cooper jumped out of the rear exit of the Boeing 727 while it was flying.
• 👮‍♂️ An extensive 45-year FBI investigation could not conclusively identify Cooper or determine his fate after the hijacking.
• 🤔 Circumstantial evidence suggests Cooper may have survived the jump despite the challenges.
• 🤑 In 1980, some of the stolen cash was found deteriorating along the Columbia River.
• 😎 Cooper's hijacking inspired several copycat hijackings, all of which were solved unlike his mystery.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The FBI investigated over 800 suspects but could not positively identify DB Cooper.
• ⚖️ Main suspects like Richard McCoy Jr. and Robert Rackstraw were eventually ruled out by the FBI.
• 🌫 The identity of DB Cooper and the outcome of his hijacking remain an unsolved mystery.

Q & A

What were DB Cooper's demands during the hijacking?

Cooper demanded $200,000 in cash, four parachutes, and for the plane to be refueled after landing in Seattle before taking off again.

Why did the airline president agree to cooperate with DB Cooper?

The airline president wanted to avoid negative publicity and reputation damage, so he agreed to cooperate secretly instead of resisting Cooper's demands.

How did Dan Cooper become known as DB Cooper?

A news reporter misheard the hijacker's name as DB Cooper and published it that way. The incorrect name stuck in the media afterwards.

What evidence suggests Cooper may have survived the jump?

Other copycat hijackers survived similar jumps in worse conditions. Also, Cooper seemed to have parachuting knowledge when reviewing the gear.

Where did the found money trace back to?

Some of the ransom money was found 8 years later near the Washougal River, validating a pilot's theory of Cooper's drop zone.

What clues did the tie and tie clip provide?

Microscopic particles on the tie clip suggested Cooper may have worked at an aeronautical or metal manufacturing company.

Who was Richard McCoy and why was he considered a suspect?

McCoy did a similar copycat hijacking months later, but was ruled out because evidence showed he was in Las Vegas during Cooper's hijacking.

Who was Robert Rackstraw and why was he considered a suspect?

Rackstraw was a veteran with a sketchy past including arrests and aircraft theft. His face matched sketches, but evidence clearing him led the FBI to drop him as a suspect.

Has the Cooper case been solved?

No, the 1971 hijacking remains an unsolved mystery with no confirmation of Cooper's identity or definitive proof of his demise.

What happened to the money that was given to Cooper?

Only $5,800 of the $200,000 has ever been found, despite serial numbers being recorded and published.